Railway-crossing.



A. W. HERRING. RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1914. 1,131,515 Patented M21119, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHDTOLITHQ. WASHINGT N, D, c.

A. W. 'HERRING.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1914.

1,131,515. Patented Mar.9,1915.

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RAILWAY-CROSSING.

Application filed. July 25, 1914..

To aZZ whom it may concern: if

Be it known that I, ARTHUR V. HERRING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway crossings, proposing a construction which is more particularly applicable to street railways and which has for its chief purpose the substantial elimination of the noise ordinarily attendant upon the passage of the wheels over the cross rails.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a crossing for the purpose stated which shall be relatively simple in its structural nature, compact in its organization, requiring but a small amount of space; readily assembled or dismantled; easily accessible for the purposes of clean ing, renewal, or repairs; certain and reliable in its operation; not detrimentally affected by the presence of dirt, snow, or ice; and easily maintained in eflicient working condi tion.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view. of a railway crossing in which the features of the invention are incorporated. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section. Fig. a is a cross sectional view on the line 4% of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlar ed detail se tional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the wheel operated members and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective View of a member which cooperates with the members shown in Fig. 6.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The intersecting tracks are distinguished by designating the rails of the one, A, and the rails of the other, B. That length of each rail which extends between the two rails of the other track comprises a relatively long fixed intermediate member 1 and relatively short movable end members 2. The members 2 project angularly from the inner ends of levers 3 which are pivotally mounted at their outer ends as at 4 upon a bed plate or its equivalent 5, the pivotal axes Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1915.

Serial No. 853,095.

T 1 being vertically disposed and the pivotal movements of the levers 3 and therewith of the rail members 2 being in horizontal planes. angle from the rails which they adjoin and the flanges of the wheels entering the gradually reduced space between said levers and their adjoining rails effect movements of the levers away from said rails as will be apparent from Fig. 3. The adjacent ends of the members 1 and 2 are curved along arcs which have the pivots 1, as their centers and preferably have a tongue and groove sliding fit, each member 2 having a tongue quent to the passage of the wheels thereby; and the members 2 of each track are so m-- terconnected to the members 2 of the other track that by their yielding movements they compel movements of said last named members to their inner positions in the event that the latter, for any reason, do not normally occupy their said inner positions.

The means for holding the members 2 normally in their inner positions comprises springs 7, preferably expansive coil springs,-

mounted on stems 8 which project through slots in the levers 3 and are secured to the rails which adjoin said levers and form angles with the rails of which the members 2 acted upon by said springs are parts.

The connections between the members 2 comprise lever members 9 arranged closely adjacent the members 1 and at the inner sides thereof. The correspondingly located members 2 of each track are connected to a common member 9 which extends between the rails of which said members form parts. Thus the members 2 of track A are connected by two parallel lever members 9, one of which extends between the mem ers 2 at one side of the crossing and the other of which extends between the members 2 at the other side of the crossing. The same The levers 3 extend at a slight arrangement is followed for the members 2 of track B. Obviously, the members9 which extend between the members 2 of track A are disposed at right angles to the members 9 Which extend between the members 2 of track B. The connections between the members 2 and the lever members 9 consist of stems 10 which are slidable in the direction of their axes in openings 10 in the members 2. The stems 10 project laterally from said members 2 under the members 9 and are provided at their ends with upward extensions 11 which are journaled in the adjacent end portions of the members 9, forming pivots for the latter. Obviously, the stems 10 carried by the members 2 of one rail cross the stems 10 carried by the members 2 of the adjoining angularly disposed rails and to provide for this relation, the stems 1'0 of the members 2 of one rail are arranged at a different elevation from the stem 10 of the members 2 of the angularly disposed rail.

Each member 9 is constructed to have a cam action upon the members 9 which extend at right angles thereto. For this purpose, each member 9 is provided with end enlargements 12 having obliquely disposed end faces-13 which provide cams. The cam faces 13 adjoin along lines which bisect the angles formed by the intersecting rails. By virtue of this relation when a member 9 is displaced inwardly, i. e. away from the rail which it adjoins, its displaced end, acting as a cam in the obvious manner will cause a displacement of the companion end of the adjacent angularly disposed member 9 to- Ward the rail which it adjoins, in the event that said angularly disposed member 9 should, for any reason, happen to be standing away from the said rail which it adjoins. Ordinarily, there will be no occasion for the cam action referred to since the members 9 will, if the apparatus is in good order, be held closely adjacent the members 1 which they adjoin by the action of the springs 7 and also by the action of retractile coil springs 1A which are preferably employed and which are connected at the centers of the members 9.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the car to be traveling on rails A, the flanges of its wheels will engage the levers 3 which carry the members 2 of rails B (Fig. 3) and move said levers and therewith said members inwardly, 2'. 6. toward one another, against the pressure of the springs 7. Such movements of the members 2 of rails B at one end of the crossing will through the intermediary of the stems 10 which said members 2 carry cause like movements of the lever members 9 to which said members 2 are connected by said stems and these movements of the members 9 are ultimately transmitted through the intermediary of the stems 10 at the opposite ends of said memher 9 to the members 2 of track B at the opposite end of the crossing. Thus the members 20f track B and their connecting lever members 9 interpose no obstacle to the movement of the wheels along rails A. The

passage of the wheels over the crossing is comparatively noiseless becausethe members 2 of rails A take up the whole of the space between the adjoining iixed members of rail A between which they are disposed, it being well known that noises are occasioned because of interruption of the continuity of the'rails.

The above description assumes the'movement of the wheels along rails A but precisely the same operations take place when the wheels move along rails B. In this latter case, however, it is the members 2 of rails A and thelever members 9 connecting said members 2 which are displaced.

Should it happen, due to the breakage or weakening of the springs 7 or H or to other causes that any of the members 2 do not normally occupy their inner positions, they are positively forced into such positions prior to the passage of the wheels thereover. Thus assuming that a member 2 of one of the rails A at either end of the crossing is somewhat spaced from the adjoining fixed portion of the rail of which it forms a part. In such a case, there will be a like displacement of the member 9 which is connected to said displaced member 2. When this condi tion obtains, the iassage of the wheels along the rails A will, as above explained, effect displacements of the members 2 of rails B and of the lever members 9 extending between said members 2, and normally parallel to the rails A. The displacement of the lever members 9 which extend between the members 2 of rails B will cause the movement in an opposite direction, 2'. e. toward the adjoining rail A of the displaced lever member 9 connected to the displaced member 2 of a rail A. Such movement of the said displaced lever member 9 toward its adjoining rail A will cause a movement of the displaced member 2 of the said rail A to the position which it should normally occupy, prior to the passage of the wheel thereover. Stated otherwise, if any of the members 2 fail to keep their normal positions, they will be forced into such positions before the passage of a wheel thereover by the cam action of the members 9 which are displaced by said wheel upon the members 9 which are connected to the said displaced members 2, this cam action being obviously provided for by the faces 13.

It is preferred to provide an overlapping relation between the adjoining ends of the members 9. For this purpose, said members are provided with projecting flanges l5 and with grooves 16 adjoining said flanges, the

flanges and grooves being so arranged that the flange at the end of one member 9 0verlaps the flange at an adjoining end of an angularly disposed member 9 and may work in the groove of said angularly disposed memher 9.

In connection with the provision of the overlapping flanges 15 it is preferred to bevel off the inclined faces 13 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. Should there be any accumulation of dirt between the adjoining ends of the members 9, it may be readily removed by reason of the beveled formation of the faces 18. (See Figs. 5 and 7.)

It is desirable that the flanges 15 should abut the members 2 in order to prevent any accumulation of dirt between said flanges and members and in such a case, in order to prevent any binding consequent to the pivotal displacements of the members 2 and 9, the members 2 are formed at their heel portions with relatively shallow recesses 17 into which the ends of the flanges 15 at times project.

The bed plate 5 on which the levers 3 are pivoted is preferably extended to provide support for the members 9 and the latter slide on said bed plate when moved by the flanges of the wheels and by the springs 7 and It.

An advantageous feature of the operation of the apparatus is that instead of two separate operations of the members 2 at opposite ends of the crossing, there is a substantially continuous operation which, being initiated upon the member 2 at one end of the crossing is transmitted in a continuous manner to the member 2 at the opposite end of the crossing. This will be apparent by reference to Fig. 3. In this figure, the flange of the wheel has effected the displacement of the member 2 of a rail 13 at one end of the crossing and this displacement of said member 2 is transmitted to the adjoining end of the member 9 to which said member 2 is connected and progressively with the travel of the wheel along the rail A, throughout the extent of said member 9, being ultimately transmitted to the member 2 of the rail B at the opposite end of the crossing. The operation of the apparatus in this manner is, obviously, made possible by the siding fit of the stems 10 in the openings 10 of the members 2 and by the pivotal fit of the extensions 11 in the ends of the lever members 9.

The extensions 11 project to the upper faces of the lever members 9 and their upper ends are provided with suitable retaining means. The members 9 may be readily removed by first deforming or removing the retaining means of the upper ends of the extensions 11 and thereafter lifting the members 9 from said extensions. The members 2 may be removed with equal facility. In

this case, the stems 8 and the pivots 4 are first removed and thereafter the members 2 are pulled away from the stems 10 which, as above explained, have a loose sliding [it in the openings 10 Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said members and extending at angles therefrom and lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and having their end portions pivotally connected to the end members between which they extend, each lever member having its end portions formed with cam faces arranged to coact with similarly formed cam faces provided at the adjoining ends of the angularly disposed lever members, the lever members being located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members.

2. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and having their end portions pivotally connected to the end members between which they extend, the lever members being located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members, and spring means for holding said end members normally against those portions of the rails of which they form parts which are located beyond the crossing.

3. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles there from and lever members extending between said end members at each side of the cross ing and having their end portions pivotally connected to the end members between which they extend, each lever member having its end portions formed with cam faces arranged to coact with similarly formed cam faces provided at the adjoining ends of the angularly disposed lever members, the lever members being located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members, the adjoining end portions of the lever members being formed with overlapping flanges and the said cam faces being beveled otl' above said flanges.

&. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising afixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and having their end portions pivotally connected to the end members between which they extend, each lever member having its end portions formed with cam faces arranged to coact with similarly formed cam faces provided at the adjoining ends of the angularly disposed lever members, the lever members being located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members, and spring means for holding said end members normally against those portions of the rails of which they form parts which are located beyond the crossing.

5. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members and connections between the ends of said lever members and the adjacent end members between which said lever members extend, comprising stems fitted to said end members for sliding movement in the direction of their axes and pro jecting therefrom under said lever members and angular extensions provided on the projecting ends of said stems and pivotally fitted to said lever members.

6. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members, connections between the ends of said lever members and the adjacent end members between which said lever members extend. comprising stems fitted to said end members for sliding movement in the direction of their axes and projecting laterally therefrom under said lever members and angular extensions provided on the projecting ends of said stems and pivotally fitted to said lever members, and spring means for holding said end members normally against these portions of the rails of which they form parts which are located beyond the crossing.

7. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members and connections between the ends of said lever members and the ad acent end members between which said lever members extend,

extensions provided on the projecting ends of said stems and pivotally fitted to said lever members, each lever member having its end portions formed with cam faces ar ranged to coact with similarly formed cam faces provided at the adjoining ends of the angularly disposed lever members.

8. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom, lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and located adjacent and at the inner sides of said fixed rail members, connections between the ends of said lever members and the adjacent end members between which said lever members extend, comprising stems fitted to said end members for sliding movement in the direction of their axes and projecting laterally therefrom under said lever members and angular extensions provided on the projecting ends of said stems and pivotally fitted to said lever members, each lever member having its end portions formed with cam faces arranged to coact with similarly formed cam faces provided at the adjoining ends of the angularly disposed lever members and spring means for holding said end members normally against those portions of the rails of which they form parts which are located beyond the crossing. i

9. In a railway crossing the combination of intersecting rails, each comprising a fixed intermediate member and movable end members, pivotally mounted levers carrying said end members and extending at angles therefrom and lever members extending between said end members at each side of the crossing and having their end portions pivotally connected to the end members between which they extend, the adjacent end portions of the lever members being formed with overlapping flanges.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

ARTHUR W. I-IERRING.

WVitnesses JOHN S. Powers, CHAS. S. HYER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

